WATCH: Raiders hold 'moment of support and love' for Damar Hamlin ahead of finale vs. Kansas City
Right before the Las Vegas Raiders and Kansas City Chiefs kicked off in the first NFL action since Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin suffered a horrific cardiac incident, the Raiders held a “moment of support and love.” Instead of silence, the public address announcer implored fans to cheer.
The ensuing moment was yet another in the long line of touching tributes to Hamlin. The ESPN cameras captured the moment, and even inactive Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman in a “Love for Damar” T-shirt.
“Throughout this week the entire NFL family has been praying for Damar Hamlin of the Buffalo Bills as he continues his recovery. And we thank the first responders and medical professionals involved in his care,” the public address announcer said.
Hamlin saw his condition steadily improve throughout the week to the point where a breathing tube was removed and he was able to speak with loved ones and teammates.
Hamlin spoke, addressed Bills teammates on Friday
According to a report by Ian Rapoport, Hamlin’s breathing tube is out, which he needed since the incident occurred on Monday night.
This is allowing him to speak to his teammates too. He has spoken to several of his teammates individually on FaceTime. Now, he is able to address the entire team, again by FaceTime.
According to Jeff Howe, Damar Hamlin had a simple message for his teammates during that call, “Love you, boys.”
“He was able to gesture, moreso with his hands. But we were able to hear him say, ‘I love you, boys’ to the team and the people in the room. Remarkable progress over the last 24 hours,” Bills head coach Sean McDermott said.
Damar Hamlin still has a long road in his recovery. However, for what was one of the scariest moments in NFL history, this is a step in the right direction. It’s one that should help everyone in and around football feel better about his health and the journey that he’s now on.
The Bills-Bengals game was initially suspended by the NFL, before simply being cancelled. This has led to several questions that still need to be answered about seeding and the structure of the playoffs in the AFC. However, nothing has been decided yet.